With her disappearance, and consequently that of the sun, the world went cold and dark. Kojiki, translated by Basil ChamberlainĪmaterasu had gone into hiding, for her brother Susanoo had shamed her greatly. and stamping till made it resound and doing as if possessed by a Deity, and pulling out the nipples of her breasts, pushing down her skirt-string privates. Family TreeĪme-no-Uzume appears predominantly in the tale of Amaterasu and her family. Their children created the theater forms of kagura and noh. FamilyĪme-no-Uzume’s husband is Sarutahiko Okami, leader of the earthly kami. In relation to her husband, she is also considered an inari kami, or a goddess connected to kitsune, Japanese fox spirits known for their cunning and wiles. Because of these theatrical connections, Ame-no-Uzume is the goddess of revelry. Ame-no-Uzume is often depicted in kyogen, a comedic theater tradition, and here she is often displayed semi-nude to comic effect. Mirrors, a sacred symbol of the Imperial family, are often connected to Ame-no-Uzume because of the way the ocean on Japan’s eastern coast reflects the dawn sun like a mirror.Īme-no-Uzume is credited with the creation of many Japanese art forms, such as kagura, a kind of dance telling the stories of kami, and some forms of comedy and theater such as the ancient noh. Her nature makes her a great diplomat, and she acts as one of Amaterasu’s most trusted servants. Unlike the very reserved and proper Amaterasu, Ame-no-Uzume is open, easygoing, and dedicated to bringing joy to the world. Traditional stories describe Ame-no-Uzume as wearing loose or revealing clothing, which other kami in these stories find comical, but Ame-no-Uzume is joyful and unconcerned. Because of this, Ame-no-Uzume is often portrayed as smiling. Ame-no-Uzume is very different from her mistress, however, being more inclined to joviality and creativity, which connect to the potential, creation, and happiness often associated with sunrise. AttributesĪme-no-Uzume is first and foremost the goddess of dawn, placing her in the service of Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun. Her name can be translated a number of ways, one of which is “The great goddess, shining Uzume.” Other derivations include “The Great Persuader,” or the “Heavenly Alarming Female.”Īn alternate appellation of hers is Omiyanome-no-okami, rendering her a retainer of the goddess Amaterasu from Yanome (near Fukushima), translated as “The great goddess, retainer from Yanome.” In comedic theater, she is often called Okame. Her name is sometimes shortened to Uzume, and the name Ame is sometimes rendered and pronounced as Ama, both of which mean light. Ame-no-Uzume’s full name is Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto, represented by the Kanji 天宇受売命 or 天鈿女命.
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